[Test99]

I'd like to disable the touchpad. When I'm typing, I invariably touch it inadvertently, causing the text insertion point to move to some random place on the page. It happened four times while typing this paragraph. This makes text entry very hard labor.

I have an external mouse. And there's a button in Control Panel/Mouse/Hardware/PS2 Compatible Mouse/Properties/Change Settings/Driver to disable the touchpad. But it is grayed out.

Does anyone know how to disable the touchpad?

I'm using Windows 7 build 7100, but will switch to the RTM build shortly.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Impreza.STi]

Since you're using Win7, the simplest way to disable TouchPad is shutting it down in BIOS:
1. Start your mini or restart it if you're in Win7;
2. Press F2 several times when you see DELL logo with blue bar loading;
3. Find "POST Behaviour" tap or search through taps until you see TouchPad section;
4. Just disable it by selection, know this, you cannot re-use it from OS since the system thinks there is no TouchPad at all;
5. Save & Exit the BIOS.
Enjoy...

[Test99]

Thank you for responding.

Are you saying that once the touchpad has been disabled in the BIOS, it cannot be reenabled?

[WolfKeeper]

It can be, from the BIOS, not from the operating system.

Need to find a better way to do it from the OS, so you can switch it on/off as needed...

I tried disabling from the Control Panel Mouse window, and it worked. Do you have the Synaptic touchpad drivers installed?

http://www.notouchpad.com/ <-- tested and works on Windows 7. Use the Windows key+Q to activate/deactivate. License costs five bucks.

[erikistired]

with my 11z i installed the vista touchpad drivers and it let's me "ignore touchpad when mouse is present", even in windows 7.

[Impreza.STi]

Just download and install the Dell new Windows 7 touchpad driver, and go to: Start -> Control Panel -> Mouse. You will be able to find the option as erikistired mentioned above.

[Test99]

Thanks everyone for your helpful recommendations. I'll try them and report back.